The Ohio Council of Churches, representing 18 Christian denominations, said in a statement that
more is needed to broaden the religious exemption in the new federal law’s current mandate and to
add safeguards for “religious liberty and the rights of conscience.”

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati released the statement yesterday. Tony Stieritz,
director of the Office of Catholic Social Action, said, “To have mainline Protestant churches in
solidarity with Catholics on religious freedom sends a clear and powerful message.”

The statement said the group doesn’t oppose most of the federal Affordable Care Act and hopes
the law leads to expanded access to health care. But the group states concerns about the definition
of a religious institution and the impact on religion-affiliated charities, hospitals and
universities.